The Catawba River Greenway meanders, along with its river namesake, through the historic town of Morganton, North Carolina. The trail encompasses wooded areas, open meadows and the quaint commercial...

The Elkin & Alleghany Rail-Trail is part of an effort to connect the rural town of Elkin with the nearby Stone Mountain State Park, utilizing the long-abandoned route of the historic Elkin & Alleghany...

Kings Mountain Gateway Trail is situated in a beautiful natural park setting offering a picnic shelter, restrooms, drinking fountains, and parking. Much of the park is heavily wooded and the trail is...

The Peavine Trail runs for 1.5 miles from State Street in downtown Marion, North Carolina to just south of the First Christian Church on Rutherford Road. Construction of the crushed gravel and grass...

The paved, 3.62-mile Point Lookout Trail follows the Old NC 10/Highway 70 route through the Royal Gorge, once known at the Central Highway, through the Pisgah National Forest. The trail ascends more...

The Railroad Grade Road is a 10-mile road built on an old railroad grade that was once part of the Virginia-Carolina Railroad (Virginia Creeper). This part of the Virginia Creeper line was abandoned...

The South Fork New River Greenway offers a winding, paved pathway through the town of Boone, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Brookshire Park is at the northern end of the trail...

As you might expect, the South Fork Rail-Trail closely follows the South Fork of the Catawba River on the south end of Lincolnton. The trail rests atop a former rail corridor within land preserved by...

If you enjoy rail-trails that flaunt their railroading past, you're sure to love the Thermal Belt Rail-Trail. This well-maintained route runs 8 miles from Spindale north to Gilkey, passing through the...

As of September 2015, the Tweetsie Trail in eastern Tennessee is now completed. The rail-trail follows the former ET&WNC (“Tweetsie”) Railroad right-of-way for 9.5 miles. It begins at Alabama Street...

The multi-use Yadkin River Trail accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists and joggers in the beautiful Happy Valley area of Caldwell County. The 2-mile trail is paved and includes a walking loop near the...

Trails by activity

The Railroad Grade Road is a 10-mile road built on an old railroad grade that was once part of the Virginia-Carolina Railroad (Virginia Creeper). This part of the Virginia Creeper line was abandoned...

The Catawba River Greenway meanders, along with its river namesake, through the historic town of Morganton, North Carolina. The trail encompasses wooded areas, open meadows and the quaint commercial...

The South Fork New River Greenway offers a winding, paved pathway through the town of Boone, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Brookshire Park is at the northern end of the trail...

The Peavine Trail runs for 1.5 miles from State Street in downtown Marion, North Carolina to just south of the First Christian Church on Rutherford Road. Construction of the crushed gravel and grass...

As of September 2015, the Tweetsie Trail in eastern Tennessee is now completed. The rail-trail follows the former ET&WNC (“Tweetsie”) Railroad right-of-way for 9.5 miles. It begins at Alabama Street...

Kings Mountain Gateway Trail is situated in a beautiful natural park setting offering a picnic shelter, restrooms, drinking fountains, and parking. Much of the park is heavily wooded and the trail is...

The multi-use Yadkin River Trail accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists and joggers in the beautiful Happy Valley area of Caldwell County. The 2-mile trail is paved and includes a walking loop near the...

The paved, 3.62-mile Point Lookout Trail follows the Old NC 10/Highway 70 route through the Royal Gorge, once known at the Central Highway, through the Pisgah National Forest. The trail ascends more...

The Elkin & Alleghany Rail-Trail is part of an effort to connect the rural town of Elkin with the nearby Stone Mountain State Park, utilizing the long-abandoned route of the historic Elkin & Alleghany...

The paved, 3.62-mile Point Lookout Trail follows the Old NC 10/Highway 70 route through the Royal Gorge, once known at the Central Highway, through the Pisgah National Forest. The trail ascends more...

The Peavine Trail runs for 1.5 miles from State Street in downtown Marion, North Carolina to just south of the First Christian Church on Rutherford Road. Construction of the crushed gravel and grass...

The Railroad Grade Road is a 10-mile road built on an old railroad grade that was once part of the Virginia-Carolina Railroad (Virginia Creeper). This part of the Virginia Creeper line was abandoned...

If you enjoy rail-trails that flaunt their railroading past, you're sure to love the Thermal Belt Rail-Trail. This well-maintained route runs 8 miles from Spindale north to Gilkey, passing through the...

Kings Mountain Gateway Trail is situated in a beautiful natural park setting offering a picnic shelter, restrooms, drinking fountains, and parking. Much of the park is heavily wooded and the trail is...

The Catawba River Greenway meanders, along with its river namesake, through the historic town of Morganton, North Carolina. The trail encompasses wooded areas, open meadows and the quaint commercial...

The multi-use Yadkin River Trail accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists and joggers in the beautiful Happy Valley area of Caldwell County. The 2-mile trail is paved and includes a walking loop near the...

The Elkin & Alleghany Rail-Trail is part of an effort to connect the rural town of Elkin with the nearby Stone Mountain State Park, utilizing the long-abandoned route of the historic Elkin & Alleghany...

The Peavine Trail runs for 1.5 miles from State Street in downtown Marion, North Carolina to just south of the First Christian Church on Rutherford Road. Construction of the crushed gravel and grass...

The multi-use Yadkin River Trail accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists and joggers in the beautiful Happy Valley area of Caldwell County. The 2-mile trail is paved and includes a walking loop near the...

If you enjoy rail-trails that flaunt their railroading past, you're sure to love the Thermal Belt Rail-Trail. This well-maintained route runs 8 miles from Spindale north to Gilkey, passing through the...

The Railroad Grade Road is a 10-mile road built on an old railroad grade that was once part of the Virginia-Carolina Railroad (Virginia Creeper). This part of the Virginia Creeper line was abandoned...

As of September 2015, the Tweetsie Trail in eastern Tennessee is now completed. The rail-trail follows the former ET&WNC (“Tweetsie”) Railroad right-of-way for 9.5 miles. It begins at Alabama Street...

The Catawba River Greenway meanders, along with its river namesake, through the historic town of Morganton, North Carolina. The trail encompasses wooded areas, open meadows and the quaint commercial...

The South Fork New River Greenway offers a winding, paved pathway through the town of Boone, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Brookshire Park is at the northern end of the trail...

Kings Mountain Gateway Trail is situated in a beautiful natural park setting offering a picnic shelter, restrooms, drinking fountains, and parking. Much of the park is heavily wooded and the trail is...

As you might expect, the South Fork Rail-Trail closely follows the South Fork of the Catawba River on the south end of Lincolnton. The trail rests atop a former rail corridor within land preserved by...

The Elkin & Alleghany Rail-Trail is part of an effort to connect the rural town of Elkin with the nearby Stone Mountain State Park, utilizing the long-abandoned route of the historic Elkin & Alleghany...

Recent Trail Reviews

South Fork New River Greenway

Short, But Nice - and Connects to a Longer trail

This is a nice short, flat trail. Nice indoor permanent facilities (closed in winter). There is a link at the end of this trail to go up into the hills- really nice but steep start to it. You can veer off to the left and loop back to the main road (not highly traveled and fine for running) or keep going up to the top for great views of Boone - but be warned - it is a trek to get up there. The main, flat trail is great for biking or running - the hill trails I don't think would work for biking - at least not for the average biker.

This trail continues under Rt 421 on to a country road - if you follow that, it connects about a mile down to the Boone Greenway trails. All in all it is 4 miles - 8m round trip and makes for a nice, scenic long run.

Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail

Don't Fear the Uphill

If you have been riding at all before you head to the VCT, don't be afraid to do the trail from Damascus to Whitetop. Yes it goes uphill, but it is not a steep grade and is easily accomplished.
The scenery along the VCT is nice, but the trail isn't as well maintained as many R2Ts on the East Coast. Three trails that offer as much in scenery and a better ride are the GAP (Western PA), Heritage Trail (York,PA) and Pine Creek (Wellsboro, PA).
Given the number of shuttle services in Damascus it looks like the crowds on the weekends are crazy.

Shelby Rail-Trail

Rail Trail

This trail has a lot of pros but one big con. Pros are: extremely well maintained (hats off to those maintaining it), no big inclines which is great if you have joint pain like I do, freakin' AWESOME. suspension bridge, beautiful walnut trees and blackberry bushes, trail follows river so nice views of that. Con: noise from highway can be heard during nearly the entire hike. This is a major turn off for me because when I hike, I want to be immersed in the sites and sounds of nature and leave the outside world behind.

Catawba River Greenway

Live 2.5 hours away, but will make more visits

The Catawba River Greenway in Morganton is one of the nicest biking/walking paths I have ever experienced. The trail is listed the at 3.80 miles, we logged 10 miles on it. There are some side paths to take.
I parked at the Catawba Soccer Complex, there are five other parking areas that I saw, Greenlee Ford, River Village (NC 181), Catawba Meadows (Sanford Drive) ,Rocky Ford (US 64/NC 18), and Freedom Park (NC 126)
My recommendation, and this is what I am going to do the next time, because I will definitely go back, is to park by the restaurant named Judge's Riverside. The parking there is shaded and right on the path.
I would estimate that ninety percent of the path is shaded, the path runs right along the Catawba river and has numerous decks with seating that have been built and they hang out over the river. Nice places to stop, relax and listen to the water, additionally, there are distance markers every tenth of a mile. On the eastern end of the trail is a native american village interpretive center, it is located in Catawba Meadows Park. We will check it out on the next trip. There are also a couple of restaurants located along the path and I guess we will have to check them out on subsequent trips. I have a bunch of pictures on my facebook page, here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/BikesBeerandGrub/

Kings Mountain Gateway Trail

Gateway Trail

The short loop trails are a great way to unwind. Either the Butterfly Garden or at the top of Cardio Hill. Also offers workout stations which I haven't seen in sometime. Will maintained and great facilities at the trail head. Great view of Crowders and Kings Mountain from the top of Cardio Hill.

Thermal Belt Rail-Trail

Lovely trail

Tweetsie Trail

Lots of Potential

Started riding the trail when it first opened and loved it overall. However, we would love to see it extended to Roan Mountain. Also, people need to clean up after their pets and the trail is not as well maintained as it was in the beginning. On our last ride, there was quite a bit of storm related debris along the trail and it had washed the trail in several areas. Despite these issues, the trail is a great addition to our community and looking forward to future expansion (great potential for tourism growth and improved health of our region). Keep the trail safe & clean! Take some tips from Chattanooga's Riverpark Trail - AMAZING TRAIL - Extremely well maintained with great design & a sense of permanence - A Must See Trail!

Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail

One of the Very Best

Rode the Creeper on two warm days last November. The scenery is gorgeous--one of the prettiest rail trails anywhere. Abingdon and Damascus are very nice. I have ridden all sorts of trails from the Katy to the GAP/C&O and this is a pretty as they come.

Highland Rail Trail

Highland Trail

This has the potential to be better but right now, hardly worth it. Took longer to load and unload the bikes than it did to ride the trail and part of it is an overgrown, gravel path. Dead-ends at 321 (a very busy 4-6 lane highway) and no way to get across to Rankin Lake (a very nice park). Maybe, someday, the city will figure a way to cross 321 to get to the park.

Shelby Rail-Trail

Twin trestle trail part of the Carolina Thread trail

This is a jewel of a trail, located so close to uptown, yet you feel like you are in the wilderness. Excellent design, well maintained, and highlights include trestle, waterfall, and a cool suspension bridge. Anticipate linking up with other trails throughout the county